Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin marked the Independence Day holiday by firing back at "false and defamatory allegations" made over the past twenty-four hours; noting limits on the "right of free speech"; declaring herself a victim; and issuing threats of potential litigation against a number of journalists and media outlets.

Through her private attorney, Thomas Van Flein, Palin issued a statement on Saturday in response to stories concerning suggestions of a federal investigation into the contracting and building of her house on Lake Lucille in Wasilla and the Wasilla Sports Complex, both constructed during her tenure as Mayor of the small town.

The four page response [posted in full at the end of this article] rebuts allegations as discussed on this blog and other news sites on Friday following the former Republican Vice Presidential nominee's surprise announcement that she would be resigning from office with a year and a half still remaining in her first term as Governor.

The defiant statement includes a warning "to provide notice" to journalists and media outlets that she "will be exploring legal options this week to address such defamation."

The statement opens by charging that following her stunning, and often beguiling, hastily called press conference at the beginning of the holiday weekend, "several unscrupulous people have asserted false and defamatory allegations that the 'real' reasons for Governor Palin's resignation stem from an alleged criminal investigation pertaining to the construction of the Wasilla Sports Complex."

Also, late tonight, the Los Angeles Times has filed a short article featuring a response from an FBI spokesperson in Alaska who denies that the agency is investigating the Palins on those matters...

Palin Camp Denies Wrong Doing

The Van Flein/Palin statement describes allegations of impropriety and possible indictments as a "canard ... first floated by Democrat operatives in September 2008 during the national campaign and followed up by sympathetic Democratic writers." The attorney describes the charges as "one of many fabrications about Sarah Palin."

"The Sports Complex was built in 2002. It is now 2009," Van Flein writes on Palin's behalf. "While the Federal Government has a process to follow, and that process sometimes takes time, we can categorically state that we are not aware of any 'federal investigation' that has been 'pending' for the last seven years. We are aware of no subpoenas on SBS [Spenard Builders Supply] regarding the Palins."

The statement makes liberal use of direct quotes, such as "federal investigation" and "pending", as seen in the above, but fails to attribute them to anybody in particular. The comment about SBS subpoenas would seem to be in reply to a report at The Daily Beast on Friday by Max Blumenthal (which we linked to and quoted in a late update to our own coverage) asking "Did a Scandal Sink the U.S.S. Palin?" Blumenthal, however, is not named directly in the letter, nor is Daily Beast, nor did he use the word "pending".

Blumenthal had written:

The suddenness of her announcement raises the question about whether Palin resigned to avert a major scandal. One logical place to start looking is the affair that has Alaska political circles buzzing: an alleged scandal centered around a building contractor, Spenard Building Supplies, with close ties to Palin and her husband, Todd.
...
Many political observers in Alaska are fixated on rumors that federal investigators have been seizing paperwork from SBS in recent months, searching for evidence that Palin and her husband Todd steered lucrative contracts to the well-connected company in exchange for gifts like the construction of their home on pristine Lake Lucille in 2002.

Blumenthal went on to detail documented SBS ties to the Palins, comments made to the Fox "News" Channel by Palin's husband Todd about building his own house, and other information suggesting that yesterday's resignation was a last-minute decision, unknown to even other high-ranking Alaskan officials.

The Daily Beast article links (as we also did in our late update, along with extended excerpts) to a October 2008 report by Wayne Barret, described in a footnote in Palin's statement as "a writer for the left wing Village Voice". Barret's detailed, investigative Voice article examined questions about the contract bidding process for the city's $12.5 million sports complex while Palin served as mayor, and other details about the suppliers and architect of her home, both political supporters of Palin's. Both structures were built in Wasilla during the same period and said, as we noted yesterday, to feature the "same windows, same wood, same products."

Van Flein responds by saying the sports complex "was publicly bid, in accordance with City and state law." As to the house, he writes: "Prior to the construction of Lowe's and Home Depot within the last few years in Wasilla, Spenard Builders Supply was the primary building supply company in Wasilla. It can hardly come as a surprise that it would sell materials to small homeowners or that it would also bid to supply commercial contracts."

Bloggers, MSM Put on Legal 'Notice' For 'Abuse of Free Speech'

While The BRAD BLOG was not directly named in Palin's rebuttal statement, Alaskan journalist Shannyn Moore, a blogger at Huffington Post (and occasional guest blogger at The BRAD BLOG) who served, as we noted, as one of our sources for some of our reportage on this matter Friday, is mentioned --- and threatened --- directly in the Governor's statement.

Moore, a longtime Anchorage radio host (currently heard on Fox "News" radio affiliate KBYR), is described by Palin as a "liberal Alaska blogger". She has known Palin for years, having interviewed her many times, and is credited with breaking a number of key stories concerning the Governor over the past year. Moore had hinted at a looming "iceberg scandal" in her initial HuffPo coverage of Palin's resignation Friday afternoon. We filled out that reference with a few more details based on a phone conversation we'd had with her, though the specifics of the "iceberg scandal" were not yet discussed until a further update to our story. That update offered additional details about allegations of an investigation and a possible embezzlement scandal concerning the sports complex and Palin's house, as based on information from a number of Alaskan sources.

Moore and several mainstream media outlets are issued an ominous-sounding warning, in the soon-to-be-former Governor's statement, that they may be challenged with legal actions should they "propagate defamatory material":

To the extent several websites, most notably liberal Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, are now claiming as "fact" that Governor Palin resigned because she is "under federal investigation" for embezzlement or other criminal wrongdoing, we will be exploring legal options this week to address such defamation. This is to provide notice to Ms. Moore, and those who re-publish the defamation, such as Huffington Post, MSNBC, the New York Times and The Washington Post, that the Palins will not allow them to propagate defamatory material without answering to this in a court of law. The Alaska Constitution protects the right of free speech, while simultaneously holding those "responsible for the abuse of that right." Alaska Constitution Art. I, Sec. 5. http://ltgov.state.ak.us...nstitution.php?section=1. These falsehoods abuse the right to free speech; continuing to publish these falsehoods of criminal activity is reckless, done without any regard for the truth, and is actionable.

Though the words "fact" and "under federal investigation" are quoted directly, Van Flein does not cite the sources of those quotations either.

We spoke with Moore briefly on Saturday night, though she was preparing to host her radio show within minutes, on which, she said, she would likely be discussing Palin's statement. At the same time we were preparing to head out for family festivities for the evening, in celebration of the Independence Day holiday. In our brief conversation, truncated due to both commitments, she expressed concerns about attempts at censorship and intimidation against journalists by a public official, as read in Palin's response. No doubt, if she hasn't already, she will be replying to Palin's statement herself directly, in some form, in the days ahead.

[Update 7/5: As predicted, Moore has now responded. Big time. And she's joined by her fellow AK bloggers. Details here...]

AK FBI: 'No Truth to Rumors We're Investigating'; Palin Plays Victim

Meanwhile, as Palin played the victim card in a post to supporters on her Facebook page, the Los Angeles Times reports late Saturday night that an FBI spokesperson in Alaska categorically denies the Governor is under any kind of investigation by his agency:

A day after Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin resigned, a federal official in her home state dismissed one potential explanation for her sudden and unexpected resignation: a rumored FBI investigation into the former Wasilla mayor on public corruption charges.

Despite rumors of a looming controversy after the Republican governor's surprise announcement Friday that she would leave office this month, some of them published in the blogosphere, the FBI's Alaska spokesman said the bureau had no investigation into Palin for her activities as governor, as mayor or in any other capacity.

"There is absolutely no truth to those rumors that we're investigating her or getting ready to indict her," Special Agent Eric Gonzalez said in a phone interview Saturday. "It's just not true." He added that there was "no wiggle room" in his comments for any kind of inquiry.

On Saturday, Palin also posted a note to supporters on her Facebook page following up on her curious resignation announcement, explaining that "my family and I determined after prayerful consideration that sacrificing my title helps Alaska most."

The LA Times' Josh Meyer finishes up his report with a quote from that post in which Palin describes herself as a victim of those in "Washington and the media" who "will never understand" her "higher calling":

"How sad that Washington and the media will never understand; it's about country. And though it's honorable for countless others to leave their positions for a higher calling and without finishing a term, of course we know by now, for some reason a different standard applies for the decisions I make."

Palin did not respond directly, however, to Republican U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski who issued a statement on Friday, following Palin's shocking and often manic announcement (on Saturday, the LA Times described it as "disjointed and cryptic"), expressing that she was "deeply disappointed that the governor has decided to abandon the state and her constituents before her term has concluded."

It should be noted that Murkowski's father, former Alaskan Governor Frank Murkowski, was unseated by Palin during the 2006 Republican gubernatorial primary.

The latest 'Thrilla in Wasilla' will, no doubt, continya...

* * *

The complete, four-page, July 4th statement from "Thomas Van Flein for Governor Sarah Palin" on the stationery of Clapp, Peterson, Van Flein, Tiemessen, Thorsness, LLC, can be downloaded here PDF. The full text of the statement is posted below...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 4, 2009

On July 3rd, 2009, Governor Sarah Palin announced her intent to resign her gubernatorial duties and transfer the powers of Governor to Lt. Governor Sean Parnell.

Almost immediately afterwards, several unscrupulous people have asserted false and defamatory allegations that the "real" reasons for Governor Palin's resignation stem from an alleged criminal investigation pertaining to the construction of the Wasilla Sports Complex. This canard was first floated by Democrat operatives in September 2008 during the national campaign and followed up by sympathetic Democratic writers.[1] It was easily rebutted then as one of many fabrications about Sarah Palin. Just as power abhors a vacuum, modern journalism apparently abhors any type of due diligence and fact checking before scurrilous allegations are repeated as fact.

The history of the Wasilla Sports Complex is publicly known. Contrary to the insinuation that as Mayor of Wasilla, Sarah Palin "personally" oversaw bidding, construction, funding and accounting for the project (and thus, the allegation goes, "embezzled" from the project), the truth is far more mundane, and publicly available:

Curtis D. Menard was instrumental in spearheading the effort from conception to realization of the Wasilla Sports Complex. He directed the steering committee that was responsible for placing the issue before the voters of Wasilla and subsequently passed. He remained chairman of that committee through the design and construction of the facility. He was an ardent supporter and leader of civic, educational and athletic endeavors within the community as well as an advocate of the continued success of the Sports Center.

____________________________

1 Wayne Barrett, a writer for the left wing Village Voice, published these insinuations, on October 7, 2008 in a story entitled "The Book of Sarah" available at http://www.villagevoice....8/news/the-book-of-sarah. This was written in the style of one pretending to be amazed that so many people in a small town like Wasilla appear to know one another, support one another, and take on big projects together. Apparently that is uncommon in New York. Rather than recognize that leaders of a community often mobilize to accomplish projects, the writer offered this up as an unusual and questionable association of special interests.

http://www.cityofwasilla.com/index.aspx?page=114. Thus, as any basic fact checker would learn, the Mayor of Wasilla is not listed as "chair" of the Steering Committee. As Mayor, Governor Palin did appoint the committee, another fact readily verifiable, and she was publicly on record supporting the need for such a facility-as was most of Wasilla. "Wasilla weighs sports facility" published December 6, 2001 and available at http://www.adn.com/sarah...ground/story/517370.html. While her public support of this project was deemed pivotal by many, the actual construction, bidding, financing and other day-to-day management of the project was not in her scope of authority as Mayor.

In addition, Sarah Palin was then criticized by some of not showing enough interest in the project. The Frontiersman reported that at a public meeting with the Chamber of Commerce, an opponent of the project "accused Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin of staying quiet about the arena because of her campaign for Lieutenant Governor." "Sports Arena Campaign gets Rolling" http://www.frontiersman....les/2002/02/21/news6.txt (February 22, 2002).

Further, this was a highly public project, approved by the voters, and subject to public bid requirements. As described by the City of Wasilla itself:

The city uses competitive means for the purchase of all goods and services as required by Wasilla Municipal Code 5.08. The city also utilizes contracts and price agreements established by the State of Alaska, the Western States Contracting Alliance and other cooperatives or agencies when it is deemed to be in the best interest of the City. The city believes in open, fair competition and strives to ensure that all vendors have equal opportunity to compete for city business.

The City of Wasilla operates under a decentralized purchasing system. This means purchasing decision up to $5,000 is made independently by the departments in the city (with the exception of Management Information System purchases). When the estimated amount for goods or services is between $5,000 and $9,999, departments are required to obtain three quotes prior to purchase. The departments may utilize the services of the Purchasing/Contracting Officer (PCO) for this process or may do it themselves; however, when this processed is selected, the PCO must sign off on the final product prior to purchasing or contracting.

For purchases beyond $10,000, the city requires all departments to contact the PCO who will utilize the city's bid process according to Wasilla Municipal Code 5.08. The bid process is initiated through either an Invitation to Bid (ITB), utilized when the city knows the specifications for the purchase; or a Request for Proposal (RFP), utilized when the exact specifications or process is unknown.

http://www.cityofwasilla...m/index.aspx?page=360#82. Accordingly, the Sports Complex was publicly bid, in accordance with City and state law, and was accounted for in the time and manner all public projects are handled. The Mayor of Wasilla, be it Sarah Palin, or her successor, did not handle the funds, or the materials, for this project. To thus suggest she "embezzled" is as false as it is impossible.

The additional claim of "proof" of wrongdoing is the allegation that the Palins purchased building materials from Spenard Builders Supply-and that this company may have provided supplies for the Sports Complex. Prior to the construction of Lowe's and Home Depot within the last few years in Wasilla, Spenard Builders Supply was the primary building supply company in Wasilla. It can hardly come as a surprise that it would sell materials to small homeowners or that it would also bid to supply commercial contracts. One would be hard pressed to find a home, cabin or outbuilding in the Mat-Su Valley in which Spenard Builders Supply did not sell at least some of the materials.

The Palins built their Lake Lucille house using Todd as the general contractor. Todd's family owns a hardware and building supply business in Dillingham. He is no stranger to construction, or to rolling up his sleeves and doing work. The Palins used a combination of personal savings, equity from the sale of their prior home, and conventional bank financing to build the house-like millions of American families. The deeds of trust are recordable public records. Basic journalism and fact checking would confirm this.

The Sports Complex was built in 2002. It is now 2009. While the Federal Government has a process to follow, and that process sometimes takes time, we can categorically state that we are not aware of any "federal investigation" that has been "pending" for the last seven years. We are aware of no subpoenas on SBS regarding the Palins. We are aware that the Federal Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation have been helpful, responsive and diligent in prosecuting the email hacker and in cleaning up Alaska's corrupt legislators. To be blunt-this "story" was alleged during the campaign, evaluated then by national media and deemed meritless. Nothing has changed.

To the extent several websites, most notably liberal Alaska blogger Shannyn Moore, are now claiming as "fact" that Governor Palin resigned because she is "under federal investigation" for embezzlement or other criminal wrongdoing, we will be exploring legal options this week to address such defamation. This is to provide notice to Ms. Moore, and those who re-publish the defamation, such as Huffington Post, MSNBC, the New York Times and The Washington Post, that the Palins will not allow them to propagate defamatory material without answering to this in a court of law. The Alaska Constitution protects the right of free speech, while simultaneously holding those "responsible for the abuse of that right." Alaska Constitution Art. I, Sec. 5. http://ltgov.state.ak.us...nstitution.php?section=1. These falsehoods abuse the right to free speech; continuing to publish these falsehoods of criminal activity is reckless, done without any regard for the truth, and is actionable.

I looked this one up again for all of the Obama birfers, it doesn't matter where he was born, only where mom was:

# Any one born outside the United States, if one parent is an alien and as long as the other parent is a citizen of the U.S. who lived in the U.S. for at least five years (with military and diplomatic service included in this time)

It's interesting to note that President Obama and many in his administration have threatened and got into tiffs with private citizens, too. That said, just because someone is a politician, doesn't mean anyone can say anything they want about them. "Speech" has consequences. You are free to say what you want, but, if it is defamatory, expect consequences.

BTW, Floridiot, if memory serves, what you are referring to is about someone being considered an American citizen, not natural born, which is what is required to be president. I do not want to get into a birther argument, just pointing that out. I do believe Obama is natural born, though there are some strange things out there. But, natural born.

In certain cases, one can be considered natural born if born outside the USA, such as the military base McCain was born on. But, say Obama was born in Canada (just saying), he would not be eligible, though he would be an American citizen.

oops, missed the quote that follows the bullet point above at the link.

Anyone falling into these categories is considered natural-born, and is eligible to run for President or Vice President. These provisions allow the children of military families to be considered natural-born, for example.

So now she's not being indicted or even investigated? so that was all a lie? Nice work. WTF are you doing publishing bs and why is Shannon Moore who I thought was a serious person spreading bs? I actually believed this. That pisses me off. I was wondering why tpm and other outlets weren't going with it. Now I know. Because they knew you aren't a serious person and neither is Moore. Wish I had known, i actually told people yesterday about this.

Bradblog and other sites report complete filth like "federal indictments" and other such lies as fact because their raging cases of Palin Derangement Syndrome make them do so. They're too stupid to think for themselves and too ignorant to get their own facts straight.

I hope Todd and Sarah Palin sue the hell out of all these spineless, lying jackasses. Maybe they can all share a cell together somewhere. I hear Barrow is nice in the winter time.

Good work, brad, you have transformed your blog into FLYPAPER FOR STOOOOOOOOOOOPID PEOPLE!

Great strategy, let then wingnuts post over HERE for a while so we can have some serious dialog over THERE!

After all, if palin suddenly quits after some convicted contractors had an opportunity to "show and tell" to reduce their sentence and gave no coherent reason for doing so, there are some legitimate issues that people around the country have a right to talk about.

Thank you again for sacrificing some cyberspace so that the trolls aren't posting this crap on some of the other blogs where people want to know the TRUTH!

The burden of proof is higher on a public official and this is pure nonsense to imagine that intimidation of our free press and/or making threats of lawsuits could be consistent with our free speech rights.

I'd say that her besmerchment of President Obama while on the campaign trail as an elected official of our government at the time would have more legal, legitimate grounds upon which to bring libel/slander suit.

To me this is just another proof positive that this woman is petty, unsophisticated, and certainly proving to be anything BUT ready to hold high public office. If some little blogger in Alaska has her panties in a wad, imagine how she'd self destruct with all of the negative press the WH receives?

Imagine if this woman were actually veep right now and quitting because she can't take the heat.

But not to digress due to troll droppings here, Van Flein has now attacked an individual's right to free speech by intimidation of the press. He can't be too astute to practice law in this way.

Stirring a boilding cauldron is often a very dangerous proposition. That so-called 'elite press' with whom she wants to have a schoolyard fight is precisely the giant whom you do not want to threaten. They will always have the last word and will skewer you on your way out if you're not intelligent enough to comprehend the game.

Again, she keeps confirming the fact that she never did comprehend the higher expectations placed on a elected government official in this threat to sue private individuals. Can someone please send this woman a copy of our constitution?

Maybe not. I doubt that she is interested in reading it; certainly no ability to process it.

The backlash of these threats only makes her more of a tabloid freak show.

perseus - sorry, but in most of America that kind of press does not exist anymore. The mainstream media is wholly owned and complicit with the repug/neocons that fraudlently hoisted an AWOL abusive alcoholic/cocaine addict idiot into the White House via 2 stolen elections. The same interests tried the same with mclame/palin.

It is not likely that the media will take any sort of principle stand to support those that want to hold repug/neocon darlings accountable.

another joe: Yes, that 'librul press' is actually a wholly owned subsidiary and propaganda megaphone of the reich despite how these conjobs attempt to paint it. We all KNOW what they are doing.

As for the press standing up for their rights of free speech, perhaps the conjobs need look no further than their own little bouncey-bouncey. He slanders Obama every day of the week and calls it entertainment.

Palin calling Obama a terrorist and a socialist would qualify for the higher level of expectation we place upon our public officials and would constitute a case for slander.

Time will tell if the spineless media actually know our constitution. Time will tell, yes it will.

In the interim, the celebration goes on in Ak with much to celebrate this weekend.

anonymous - and just because rag-sheet LA times says they confirmed via FBI blah blah blah...

But did they check with IRS and DOJ? Perhaps they even needed to make several contacts to FBI before someone was stooooooooopid enough to give them a quotable statement that they could portray as the "official" state of the matter?

It is curious that TIMES seems to feel talking to a "special agent" and proclaiming there is "no wiggle" definitively proves that THERE ARE NO CONCERNS, INVESTIGATIONS, OR POTENTIAL ACTIONS pending or in progress.

It's time to look to the LA Times for their verification of their "source" at the FBI?? What qualified source would disclose details of an ongoing investigation? This sounds very bogus to me - especially on a holiday weekend where contact with credibal sources is non-existent.

I think this is further damage control by the Palin machine. I don't buy a word of it, frankly.

The qualification I would make if one is to presume that this so-called 'verification' by the FBI exists is that it could not include unknown investigations by separate and individual branches of law enforcement - the DOJ and the IRS.

We know they were forced to repay $10,000 for trying to sneak the travel of their tribe onto the taxpayers so why would anyone NOT think there's more?

Once one's rep is toast due to ethical violations and/or violation federal law (expensing family travel and being found guilty with repayment) it's not a stretch to imagine just about anything with this gang.

I guess that means you're much, much dumber than I thought. And for someone suffering from such a (now) clear case of Palin Derangement Syndrome, that's really saying something.

Anyway, happy "left wing blogs getting sued for lying and being stupid" day. Hopefully this place will be nothing more than a virtual smoking crater before too much longer. People like the pieces of garbage who run this site and the pieces of garbage who support them don't deserve anything more.

Sharon pretty much sums things up for me. There is no doubt in my mind that Gov. Winky was up in the quiet of Wasilla using her power for various pleasures while mayor, but all this jumping the shark crap by the left-leaning journalists is creating confusion under which she can keep things hidden.

Try finding the story first, and then printing it, before you lose so much credibility that it won't matter what you find.

I wish someone would sue Palin over her remarks about Obama during the campaign. I would truly love to see the evidence that he didn't pal around with terrorists, etc. The discovery would be awesome to behold.

Totally agree with anonymous #20, she had no good reason for switching colleges and frankly I'm surpirsed she could graduate in apparently 9 semesters with all the transferring, just one more than a normal 8 semesters for four yr degree, because in my experience, students generally get really screwed out of credits when transferring just once, especailly when ont carefully planned (like a planned start at a community college to move unto another school for last two years in major, which her moves are not consistent with), not to mention the time it takes to move, apply elsewhere etc. The college thing seemed strange to me and was an early indication of Palin's strangeness/desire to move on.

Really, it seems quitting, keep moving has been learned behavior, as it has worked for her...she moved on from Wasilla Mayor job just when dissatisification with her was mounting into into a possible recall. She got real lucky quitting energy board as she seemed she just wanted out of job she didn't like but got chance to cast herself as anti-corruption and then got lucky with scandal that helped her get Gov job. She wasn't doing much with Gov job other avoiding being in Juneau and being a bit too Dem friendly (hard to believe now) for old-boy Repub network, then she got tapped as VP candidate. Someone who gets over on initial impressions but does not have substance to back-it up is best to keep moving. Also, she is the "get-over" type in that she doesn't move on stragetically, she literal does not want to stick around for the hard work of getting evaluating over the long-term and producing consistently. Not that she doesn't work hard, just not at the day to day grind-it-out working class way of producign something. She swoops in, does some things to make herself look good and then moves on, mastering how to look good to the next group of suckers.

She reminds me of handsome young sales guy that comes in with great kudos, sales records, and gets great sales numbers first few quarters. But once you're around him, realize he does things that aren't in long-term interest of your business, cheats, does things to get numbers now but that hurt his sales later, alienates some long-time clients who eventually move away from him. He also alienates co-workers cause he doesn't do all the other things they are told to do like sales meetings, sales reports, helping other sales guys even when they themselves won't get commision etc...and yet this is tolerated initially by sales manager because numbers are good. And just when everybody is figuring this wunder-kid ain't all that, he announces he just got a better job at a different company, that is so impressed with his sales figures. Good riddance you say.

Palin is not a quitter in that she works hard and persists, but she is a job quitter and rolling stone in that she does not want to evaluated on a long-term basis by people who really know her, she would rather like to get over on her initial appearance to folks

What is with the trolls going on about Brad reporting the rumors of a Fed investigation??? Even if this was the crazy grave offense you seem to thinking, do you not read blogs of all types? Conservative blogs have never be caught in reporting innaccurate rumors, Libertarians haven't ever done it??? I have seen much worse inaccurate rumors, factual errors on Fox News and CNN and NYTimes than this, let along, bloggers. What I think is funny, is the really controversial stuff he reports like Sible Edmonds allegations, don't even get mentioned, hardly commented on, and not refuted with any facts denying his claims...hmmmmm. Palin rumor about somethign that will soon be publically confirmed or denied, only after, mind you, she has quit her current job and expressed no immediately run for new office brings out the trolls but factual reporting on election fraud, treason with govt security agencies never get theatened lawsuits or trolls....go figure.

Gonzo you really are dumb. I guess since you are a Palin supporter that's a preresiquite. Of course you are dumb. But you are redefining dumb here if you actually believe that Palin is suing anyone. She'd have to answer questions you dumb shit and she is in no position to do that.

She's finished in national politics but you right wing fanboys can still dream about her red high heels when you're alone at night. You know, every night.

obama so far has screwed this country royally with his "community activism" at best with no real presidential decisions, yet he is seen as god. Well, obama wants to be god, god doesn't want to be obama. Why in the hell would a white man want to be a low-life, welfare recipient, hood-rat who can't even speak for himself without pre-written speeches?
Palin, FBI says she's cool, yet obama can't even produce a friggin birth certificate. Remember when you filthy liberals scrutinized mccains health report? Where is his birth certificate and legal rights? Produce them. You aren't afraid of anything. R U?

If we, as americans, have any faith in our intelligence community, we know beyond a doubt that a legitimate agent would never disclose details (pro or con) during an ongoing case.

If we think our intel agencies are that pedestrian, then it's time for those who are so easily led (sheeple) into believing that an agent would go on record over a holiday weekend to rebut internet rumors is the biggest moron of all.

The biggest thing of all, is that NO ONE just quits being governor of a state for no reason.

Another observation, though, is that she's shown for quite a while that she's too sensitive to the media. She does not have the thick skin that politicians must possess who aspire to the highest offices in the land.

If she was VP, would she be wasting her time fighting with the media all the time?

I am utterly disgusted that more people believe rumors and conjecture rather then facts. This woman with her conservative values is raked over the coals for her beliefs. The hounding that she and her family has had to endure only leaves me to believe she is FEARED by the Liberal (very liberal)Democrat party. I am a free thinker and I make my own decisions about people, and Sarah Palin is an Outstanding American and person. She sticks to her values and doesn't let the opposing view discourage her. What really makes me mad is that she is the beacon and role model for females today and that Women's Organizations don't support her more. Until women can unite together and accept each other regardless of their own "personal agendas" we will continue to be our own worst enemies. She is family oriented, a wife, mother and a career woman with goals and aspirations but that isn't recognized as valuable to "Liberal Women" because of her moral ethics. You Ms. Moore are a disgrace to Women because you are an instigator and feed the negativity that feeds the continued disarray of women as a whole.

Everyone's losing sight that SHE QUIT BEING F*CKING GOVERNOR! Who does that? Unless there's some scandal brewing or there was some behind the scenes agreement reached or they're heading off being in the spotlight when the hammer comes down.

"Halfway through her first term as Alaska's Governor, Sarah Palin has done so much for her state and her nation ... Still, there is much left to be done, so let's help Governor Palin continue the job she was elected to do without all these petty distractions."

{Ed Note: Comment deleted. 'TheGonz', as per our very few rules for commenting at The BRAD BLOG, you are free to attack public figures here, and even me, all you like. You are not, however, allowed to personally attack other commenters. Your respect for those guidelines is appreciated. Please take personal responsibility when posting, so 99 and myself don't have to police every comment on every thread. We'd rather keep this place an open forum for discussion. Thanks! - BF}

By the way, is Special Agent Eric Gonzalez speaking for the entire FBI or the entire federal government? I'd like to know the extent of his lack of wiggle room and the girth of his authority and knowledge within the federal government.

Does this mean that Obama can sue Palin for saying he palled around with terrorists? I sure hope so. He could use that house up in Wasilla. Looks mighty fine.

Oh please, please, PLEASE let Obama try to sue Palin over anything she said during the campaign. As someone noted above, the discovery phase of the trial would be so incredible that a Congress with any morals or scruples would have impeachment hearings started before the end of the year.

Obama's terrorist pal. . .his hate-spewing preacher. . .all his other lies. . .all fair game in a court of law without the mainstream media to bail his ass out of the fire.

I'm sure Sarah Palin would welcome a lawsuit from ol' Barry O. And she'd destroy him. . .just like she will in 2012 if she chooses to run for PotUS.

anyone who knows this driven woman knows that she wouldn't just up and quit what would be her pinnacle according to the Peter Principle without cause and reason. Her almost-hyperventilated statement and obvious paranoia during her swansong tells us that there's something afoot.

Only in this day and aga, of this media we have that's supposedly "liberal", can a Republican governor QUIT...and NOT give a reason...and the topic immediately shifts from "Why did she quit?" to "The media's picking on her"!

Sarah Palin obviously did the right thing by resigning. She is completely unequipped to be in the public spotlight. John McCain did her no favor by choosing her as his VP candidate. She was undoubtedly much happier as the governor of America's most isolated state. She is much too thin-skinned to run for a major national office. Scurrilous attacks? You mean like, "Hussein" Obama is a Muslim terrorist lover? Michelle Obama hates America, etc., etc...it goes with the territory. As Harry Truman said, "If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen!"

TheGonz at #60. That's my point exactly and yet while you were able to see how impossible it would be for Obama to sue Palin, you seem incapable of seeing the reverse. That's because you think that your brand of reality somehow supercedes the principle of law. That is, "Oh, she can say that Obama pals around with terrorists because he pals around with terrorists, but a reporter can't say she's under investigation for her house because her lawyer says she isn't."

Why does your logic work one way? It's almost impossible for public figure, especially a politician, to sue ANYBODY for defamation. That was the point of the article and this thread. Your comprehension skills are blindered by your political beliefs. I guess that means that there's no point in discussing this with you.

I remember several politicians basically daring the media to find dirt on them and it coming back to haunt them. Palin may indeed be innocent of any crime; however, her ethical misgivings history and the abrupt and as of yet not fully explainable departure, does make her suspect. This threat of a law suit only furthers the curiosity and elevates the drama into a showdown of will and power. I suspect that heels are being dug in at both camps and seat belts need to be tightened, here comes the ride.

On top of everything else bad about this pathetic woman, she is apparently a fascist who is trying to eliminate Free Speech.

If she sues there will be hundreds of thousands of us who will support you and you will win.

Don't let these Alaskan Hillbillies silence you!

The Plains of this world are cheap demagogues, who feel sorry for themselves even as they promote themselves exhibionistically, and even as they trample on one of the greatest rights Americans have which is Free Speech.

Palin is an idiot who can answer anyone anytime.

If you look at the impotent supporters of Ms. Palin, you see them crawling all over their shacks licking their lips hoping "Sarah" will silence all critics, get Letterman fired, close down blogs, enrich herself at the price of one of our most cherished liberties.

If Hillary suddenly quit her Sec of State job without any plausible reason, the media wouldn't go similarly nuts???

Why is Palin victim when the media is treating her the same as they would any public servant that behaves oddly? Was the media sexist towards Sanford because they asked about him being AWOL? Was Bill Clinton a victim of media because they spread rumors of affairs?

Palin did something very odd, odd behavior draws attention whether left or right. If Hill quit, wouldn't media guess, among other thing, there must be a scandal coming? Fox News, CNN, and MSNBC for that matter would obviously spend a lot of air time trying to figure out why Hill quit in middle of term and some would call her a quitter and give her a hard time for it.

And then, any previoiusly fairly underground rumor about Hill would suddenly become more believable, seem like a possibility. And given Hill had quit and said she was out of politics for good and thus was not longer a sitting executive and was not running for anything, wouldn't it be more likely to seem ethical to mention the rumor mill, especially if it was something Hill would be able to publically clear her name on if the rumor was false, such as a Fed investigation.

Be honest trolls, Hill would be treated no differently, Palin is not subject to special persecution, just typical media circus when something unusual happens.

The rumors of a Fed investigation were hardly known by anyone until Palin quit, only after she did this odd thing, leaving no obvious reason and only she was on way out of office, out of politics, did these rumors become highligthed.

As said above, Palin quit, that is what got the rumor mill going. Or did the liberals slip her a drug and cause her to quit, I'm sure some how its liberal's fault

Don't know about you but I'm old enough to recall when Bill Clinton denied "having sex with that woman." Lots of leftists called in to various radio shows saying that he should sue everyone who accused him of it.

Later, when he fessed up to it, they suddenly got quiet (at least on the lawsuit point).

If you want the right wingers to shut up about this, tell Moore to put out the evidence she claims she has on Palin. Otherwise, let it go to court (if Palin decides to sue). Until then, Moore is the one who looks worse here: she made the claim, Palin's side is saying "prove it in court." The longer Moore waits to put this info out, the worse she'll look...as well as everyone who sided with her without actually seeing the proof.

1. When elected officials up and quit without giving a reason, we have a right to speculate.

2. The facts that this speculation is based on was all public knowledge last fall and was reported by some. I have posted link in other threads but will not accomodate your obnoxious demands.

3. She cannot sue without putting herself in a position where she would have to be put under oath - something that she will never do because she would get nailed - either purjoring herself or being forced to admit to the truth of facts this is all based on.

4. Basing "proof" that the "rumors" are wrong on the statement of a "special agent" is propaganda by la times

As linked in the article above, as well as in our coverage from Friday, the original, and/or most detailed reporting on the House/Sports Complex scandal was originally filed in the Village Voice in October '08.

That little bit of slander of Governor Palin just might cost you a whole lot of money. Hope you've got a good lawyer.

...still doesn't say why Palin resigned!

It says: "On July 3rd, 2009, Governor Sarah Palin announced her intent to resign her gubernatorial duties
and transfer the powers of Governor to Lt. Governor Sean Parnell.
Almost immediately afterwards, several unscrupulous people have asserted false and defamatory
allegations that the “real” reasons for Governor Palin’s resignation stem from an alleged
criminal investigation pertaining to the construction of the Wasilla Sports Complex."

How come they won't say why she resigned???

They keep saying that other people are defaming her by claiming reasons she resigned, by Palin herself has not said why. She just keeps saying that others are wrong for at least putting forth a reason for her resigning.

Is this like a game show? A governor resigns and everyone else has to guess why?

Why didn't she resign before? Why now???

This doesn't look good for her, looking back on her possibly being the vice-president of the United States.

People often threaten lawsuits just to shut people up. A lot of times, a lawsuit is really the worst thing they could do, when they think it through. The last thing the GOP needs, is for a Palin lawsuit covered 24×7 on CNN. Yeah, right! It would be on the news more than Michael Jackson.

our troll heydo has spent much time posting crap here that she SHOULD SUE and and proclaims OF COURSE SHE WONT!

Well, truth be known - SHE CAN'T.

No one in the FBI is in a position categorically DENY that there is NO INVESTIGATION and most certainly can't state on the public record whether VECO (convicted of fraud and embezzlement in Alaska) has provided useful evidence in exchange for a lighter sentence as of the deadline of June 30, 2009.

When a well-known rag sheet that is known for publishing distortions and outright lies provides cover for this - IT IS BY DEFINITION PROPAGANDA!

Is sarah palin a corrupt embezzeler, and adulterer? I just don't know, but I will defend the rights of citizens to discuss the conduct of their elected officials and other public officials.

Her rabid evanglical base, would probably prefer all of the above to having her produce child porn, but does she?

I do not know if palin produces pornography with children or perhaps some animals. But if she did make videos of sex acts between consenting adult humans and mammals out on the farm or wilderness, I'm OK with that - I really am.

Now that she has shown us that taking the "high road" means "quitting", that "only winners quit", and that the real losers are the folks that take responsibilities to others seriously and work diligently to fulfill them, she will have a lot of time to do some corruptin', adulterin', porn producin', and even more slander and libel of her own.

And I am OK with that, because, if she used her political influences to enrich her family and embezzle directly or indirectly from the public coffers, that is obviously much more acceptable than all of this pornography even if it did feature animals that have given the most meaningful consent that is possible for said species.

Threatening a singular blogger and other (unnamed) parties with a lawsuit for statements they made regarding a public entity is a classic SLAPP (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation)-like strategy. Go after the most knowledgable, most vocal, most public voices- thus most dangerous to your credibility- against you to scare aware others from doing the same. Wont' have much affect and will be a waste of time in court. One reason we need a national SLAPP statute.

Re: way back at the top of the comments, here is something to consider: those are all terms of citizenship, not necessarily considered to be "natural born." Many legal scholars and challenges have determined that, for instance, a child born of two American citizens born in another country makes the child a citizen, but not natural born. But, a child born to two foreigners (excepting diplomatic personnel) in certain places would be natural born. That is why many illegals have their babies here.

Fine distinctions of the law, many of which are challangable and vague.

Regardless, Obama was born in Hawaii and is eligible until someone provides hard, physical proof to the contrary.

Why is all of this sounding vaguely familiar with what the Palin Crime Gang did to their BIL, the Trooper?

Do they really not "get" the constitution and one's right to free speech at all?

All they have to do is listen to Limpballs, Hannity the Manatee, O'Liely and Beck to know that they're quite comfortable making ad hominem, baseless attacks on a sitting president as well as spreading disinformation and lies as truth EVERY DAY of the week. Fox News is a sham - it's a cover for a wholly owned subsidiary of the GOP and they lie their asses off every hour of every day.

Maybe it's time for citizens to bring suits against all of these frauds and charlatans and accuse them of slander?

Give me an effin' break here. The Palins are so juvenile and get down in the dirt with everyone who crosses their path. How pedestrian and low brow can these Hillbillies get?

All I can say is "imagine what if" and this fraud would have been elected veep? It makes my mind hurt to even formulate that sick thought.

What sheer irony - Palin on the stump at her terror rallies nationwide insinuating (slanderously, I might add) that Obama palled around with terrorists and was a socialist AS A SITTING GOVERNOR AND ELECTED 'PUBLIC' OFFICIAL is in no way protected as free speech; in fact, it's a violation of the Patriot Act, plain and simple.

To now get her panties in a wad because of rumors flying around about her integrity (wait, she already has none of that as we've all seen ad nauseum) she threatens a lawsuit. Boo effin' hoo.

She quit because she couldn't get her way as she did when Mayor of Wasilla and her popularity was circling the toilet - now as her numbers plummet due to her childish, illiterate rants and self-created "dramas", she quits as governor.

With or without any further scandals, this woman is in need of psychiatric counseling which is becoming increasingly clearer with each tweet and facebook entry. Delusionally narcissistic would be my best guess.

I'm switching back to Michael Jackson since pathetically juvenile sarah has become a human cypher now. (yawn).

[ed note: This is your fifth screen name in two days. Please read our rules for commenting and the next name you use will be the one you keep. Thank you. --99]

The right(wrong)'s response to criticism is "SHUT UP, OR I'LL SUE YOU!!!" That's what they think of free speech. They can say anything they want about others, though, that's "OK". Just don't say anything about them, or they'll say: "SHUT UP! OR I'LL SUE YOU!!!"

To get this point across, ironically, Palin and the rightwing gang use the media!

No! That's an old rule, Danny! The new ones aren't out yet. I'm thinking maybe about no wingnuts until they've had their controller chips removed... or until certain pathetic pieces of work have been shipped off world. I haven't got the wording down quite right yet, though....

I am sure when the dust settle and, like after more came out about sanford and his "Appalachian trail" sex-apades became impossible to deny, the wingnuts and the trolls here will quietly disappear back into the woodwork until the next repug/neocon meltdown.

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I once enjoyed this site. Now that it has been duped by a fake journalist with a political agenda, an apology is in order to Palin and your readers. If I don't see such, displayed prominently, I'll have to conclude you have no conscience, and I won't be back. Dan Rather, remember him? At least he had the testicular fortitude to admit he made a serious mistake.

Yeah I remember Dan Rather, the "Journalist" that dared speak the well documented truth about that treasonous war criminal Dubya.
Then was systematically demonized by the reich wing mainstream media for being the only one that told the truth.

Rather has filed a suit against CBS because of it and I hope he wins every dime he sues for.